ISIS Beheads Prominent Syrian Archaeologist

In this undated photo released Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015 by the Syrian official news agency SANA, one of Syria's most prominent antiquities scholars, Khaled al-Asaad, speaks in Syria. Islamic State militants beheaded al-Asaad in the ancient town of Palmyra, Syria, then strapped his body to one of the town's Roman columns, Syrian state media and an activist group said Wednesday. The killing of 81-year-old al-Asaad was the latest atrocity perpetrated by the militant group, which has captured a third of both Syria and Iraq. (SANA via AP)

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Originally published on August 19, 2015 2:41 pm

Islamic State militants have beheaded the most prominent Syrian government archaeologist in the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra. A sign on 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad’s body calls him an apostate and a supporter of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Amr Al Azm, a history professor at Shawnee State University in Ohio and a member of the Syrian opposition, spoke with Here & Now’s Lisa Mullins about Khaled al-Asaad.

“If you want to understand who Khaled was, think of someone who’s lived his entire life in Palmyra, who’s dedicated his entire life to working in the city,” Al Azm said. “That huge repository of information is now lost to us.”